Processes and apparatus for trfating heavier hydrocarbons



Oct. 13, 193L c. H. .JENKINS lp327018 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FORTRETING-HEAVIER HYDROCARBONS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May l0, 1928 a Sw :n

- Fzwmiorf MM e, ma* o M c. H. JENKINS 1,827,018

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HEAVIER HYDROCARBONS Filed May l0. 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 I0 tical that variation, if any,

Patented Oct.l 13,

CHARLES HOWARD JENKINS, OF CHICAGO,- ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JENKINS PETROLEUM PROCESS COMPANY,

A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN PROCESSES .AND APPAnArUs Fon 'rar-'Arrive HEAVIER HYDROCARBONS- Application fied may 1o, 192s. serial No. 276,676.

My present invention relates to improvef' ments in processes and apparatus for treating heavieijrhydrocarbons, such as petroleum oils, and particularly to a process and appa- El ratus by meansof which the' yield and quality of light condensable oils produced from i such heavier oils-are respectively increased and improved aboye similar products obtainable by the employment of other processes l0' and apparatus.

' I accomplish this result through the use of specially prepared oilv and certain new and improved apparatus which imparts such high velocity and extreme turbulency to the oil in the still that the condition ofsuch oil throughout its entire circulatoryC course Within the still is, as to temperature, pressure, dispersion of solids and rate of gasoline formation so' nearly identical that variation as to these 0 characteristics in '.diiferent parts ofthe still is reducedl to the zero or vanishing point. Thus the deposition of carbon and other solids is prevented, and necessity of closing down a still for the purpose of removing dev. 25 posits of accumulated solids is entirely o bvlated. y y. The term Kzero or vanishing point as used in this application is to be understood as meaning that conditions are so nearly idenis inconsequential and virtually negligible.

I have found that in order to accomplish the best possible results in the pressure treatment of petroleumoil for the production of gasoline 1n an apparatus of the typevsho'wn and described in United States Patent #1,321,749 dated November-11, 1919, it is essential that the oil under treatment be 4driven around its circulatory course within. the still at such high speed that only a very' small increment of heat is im` arted to the oil durin its passage through t e'heating zone and t at the time required for the oil to pass through the remainder ofK its circulatory course back to the entrance of the heating zone be so short.that.the loss of-.heat during its course from the exitv to the entrance to said zone` shallvv cause no appreciable drop in temperature. When such condition as to extreme rapidity of circulation is attained it ygasoline formation which are -constant Iatent #1,321,749, above mentioned, ,it is is accompanied by the desired turbulency of the oil throughout its entire circulatory course Within the still, by a condition of uni: form dispersion of solids and by a rate of 55 throughout all parts of the body of oil in' the container. l A

While by means of the apparatus and process shown and described in United States possible to maintain throughout the circulatory course Within the still a condition of the o il as to temperature, pressure, and dispersion of solids more nearly uniform than in any other apparatus Within my knowledge, I have found that by the utilization lof the improved apparatus and process of my present invention, it is possible to obtain a uniformity as to the condition of the oil in all parts of the container with reference to temperature, pressure, dispersion of solidsand rate of gasoline formation which insures beneficial results as to quantity and quality of product which are otherwise impossible of lattainment.

In the practice of the process to which the invention relates, light oils are obtained from specially prepared heavier hydrocarbons by treatment of the latter in a closed still comprising an upper longitudinal drum superimposed over a bank of tubes expanded into front and rear transverse drums, the latter being connected to the .upper drum by suitable sluiceways, in one of which sluiceways a positive circulatory device is installed. The process involves continuous treatment of cracking stock, consisting of liquid hydrocarbons having a finely divided adsorptive dispersed therein, at a cracking temperature by external application of heat to tubes; continuously introducing additional cracking stock with coincident Withdrawal of vapors and degraded stock; and similltaneousl with the above operations, continuously sub]ecting the liquid content of still to a constant and very high rate of circulation.

This positive circulating device produces such rapid circulation in the still that in controlling the extent of cracking by regulatin the amount of hydrocarbons flowing to an 100 from the still the rapid velocity of the circulating oil Within the still is not appreciably adected. The circulationdof the oil while undergoing cracking is entirely independent of the amount of oil supplied to or withdrawn from the still.

llt is an object of this invention to increase the Speed and positiveness of circulation so that the entire body of cracking stock in the still will be driven quickly and repeatedly through the heating zone and there have imparted to it in rapid succession small increments of heat whereby such entire body of cracking stock may be maintained in a condition of uniformity as to temperature., pressure, dispersion of solids and rate of gasoline formation;`a highly important secondary result of such uniformityin heat application being the greater production of lighter hydrocarbons of superior anti-knock character than was formerly obtained.

Another object of the invention is to develop a perfectly mechanically balanced rotative action to the positive circulatory device, thus securing a minimum of vibration with its attendant evils of wear and tear to bearings, frequency of shut-clown for repairs, high maintenance costs, and indirect overhead charges for idle periods.

Still another feature of the invention is t introduce a positive scouring rotative centrifugal force on the'walls of the vertical sluiceway containing the improved propeller, before such force is translated from its vortex effect into a positive drive through the tubes.

Contra vortexes and scouring effects may be induced by a reversal of the circulation, if desired, but I employ preferably a positive propeller of a size and operated at a speed sufficient to obtain my objectives.

To a limited extent, increased speed and positiveness of circulation required by new demands in thermal eciency, quality of product, and problems that have arisen incident to the introduction of solid adsorptives to the still, have been met by increasing the speed of the simple type of propeller described in United States Patent No. 1,226. 526, but such has been accomplished only at the expense of a disproportionate consumption of power, and often induces excessive vibration.

Another suggested method to obtain the desired increase in rate and positiveness of circulation is the employment of a large size propeller operating at normal speed, but such method is limited in that the requisite diameter of sluiceway to house such a propeller would necessitate excessively heavy reinforcing of sluiceway openings.

ln brief, circumscribed by the above practical operating limits, former practice develops an average circulatory speed of about ten feet to twelve feet per second through reaaois the tubes, which rate has proven insucient to prevent a film of carbon depositing on the inner walls thereof, thus decreasing the rate of heat transfer and ultimately shortening the run. 'llhe speeds heretofore attained have also failed to maintaina constant and uniform dispersion of suspended solids throughout the entire liquid body Within the still and have also fallen short of the attainment of optimum results from the use of adsorptive substances in cases where such adsorptives must be used in relatively large amounts.

By introducing my improved positive balanced type of propeller, llv eliminate vibration at high propeller speeds and also minimize backlash, thus insuring full realization of the benefits to be derived from my improved process and apparatus.

rll`he design of my improved positive propeller admits, within certain well known laws of mechanics, a reduction both in speed I of rotation and in diameter, coincident with an increased rapidity of circulation as compared with a propeller of the ordinary rim-,

less type; and While not limiting myself to any figure, ll Iind it possible under the above conditions to obtain and l now preferably employ a rate of upwards of eighteen feet per second through the tube bank. The reduced diameter of propeller moreover per mits a corresponding decrease in size of sluiceway` thus eflecting an increased factor of safety both in the propeller' proper and in its container, highly important items in pressure still construction.

`While present development tends toward greater speed of circulation, ll find the rate of eighteen feet to twenty feet per second now suiicient to prevent deposition of any solid material, thus maintaining a constant and uniform dispersion of active as well as inert componentsthroughout the entire liquid body of the still. 'lllie maintenance of a uniform dispersion of all active constituents leads to a regular breaking down of the molecular structure of the heavier hydrocarbons, and this in 'conjunction with the benefits derived from increased speed of circulation and consequent shoiter periods of time during which the molecules are subjected to the heat influx, results in the lighter desirable hydro carbons produced retaining unchanged the maximum number of the branch chains of the heavier molecules of the original charge, thus producing a gasoline high in anti-knock value.

rlhe advantage of a speed sulicient to mamtain a constant percentage suspension of solid bodies has been mentioned, this being highly important in the case of adsorptives requiring an appreciable interval of time to develop their maximum effect, or where such substances are to be used in high concentration. lFor instance, with certain stocks high in asphaltine content it frequently becomes of circulationysu'ch necessary'to use from one to tive pounds, of wical adsorptive such as' hydrated lime r arrel of charging stock in order to 'achieve optimumresults; The dispersion of of lime requires a high rate as that made possible by my improved apparatus.

this large amount With the cleanliness of tubes produced by:

the increased positiveness and force of circulation, there occurs a maximum rateof heat interchange, with a corresponding reduction in'fuel consumption; while coincident with the above conditions, dueto the increased speed of circulation, a minimum increment of heat is transferred per pound of oil passl not only in the ingithroun theheating zone, the molecules of the bu numbery of rapidly recurrent cycles. Such 1. ar and Vmild cracking conditionsresult tial weight, sufficient to secure an inertia of tively larger man-neck is necessary i two `orrmore sections an i exceedingly re rivetted or welded surges under c anges of hydraulic head; the

ily-wheel rim bein united to the hub through a plurality of bla es, of which I employ four by preference, the latter being set lat a pitch best suited to obtain the increased circulation and positiveness of effect desired.

The im roved positivepropeller'may.be` fabricate ,in a single casting,

t0 introduce or withdraw same, when so manufactur'ed, from its operative position within the still, I prefer to have thepropeller made in the still, thus being-,able to materially decrease the size of the man-neck required to adv mit the propeller, with a correspondingincrease in Afactor of safety in still construction. I preferably develop the ropeller from a solid casting; split along a iameter bisectin the angle between two blades in sequence, locgkin the sections of the hub with a to rightanded and bottom left-handed tappe lock-'nut respectively, and uniting the rim b 'oints of suilicient strengt as to pro erly wit therein w en rotated. v

. The reverse threaded lock-nuts are emplo ed so that the usual rotation of the proller will serve to tighten the nuts 1n quesv ion; the top nut being of -hemispherical or conical form, the better to deflect the circulatory streaml to the blades of the propeller,

upper longitudinal lar orifice plate,

charge being thus progressively yand uniformly heated underk kan increasedminimum degradation of the,l

escribed correlative and coincilar rotation against possible but as a relal d` assembled within,

stand the stresses setupwhile the bottom nut is of paraboloid vshape to diminish resistance although I do not necessarily limit myself to these forms.

My improved propeller is preferably mounted in the rear vertical sluiceway on a shaft extendingv downwardly through the drum yof the still into such sluiceway, said shaft being driven by a motor mounted on the still. Immediately above the rim of the propeller vand attached to the inner wall of the sluiceway is an annuthe propeller, its bearings, the means for locking it on the shaft, and theadjacent walls of the sluicewa may be termed the propeller assembly. he upper side' ofv the orifice .plate is tapered and the upper face of the rim lose below said'- of the ropeller is located plate, t is arrangement having the effect of minimizing In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional `side elevation of a type :of appa- -ratus `suitable for the use of my improve process. Figure 2 represents a detailed plan (if the propeller detached .from the shaft,

lgu

backlash and facilitating the ilow of the oil vinto the propeller.

which platetogether with re 3 is an enlarged sectionalelevation of the positive propeller mounted in rear sluice-- l way. And Figure 4 is a fractional view of a modified form of my improved propeller and the adjacent portion of the still.

The heavier oil to -be processed is continuously forced through feed (pipe .1, in which there is a check-valve 2, an by pump 4, to distributing L 5, in top of baffle tower oil meeting in its downward path in countercurrent manner the ascending liot cracked #gasoline vapors entering the base of baille tower through the line 7, fromI the'still 8; the lighter partially de produced passing out rom the top of the control valve 3, ioo v 6 having the bale plates 6'.; the

ios

hlegmated gasoline tower through line 9, past control pressure' valve 10,` to be further reiined; the'baihe tower reject returning to still through runback line 11.

The still 8, consisting of an upper longitul dinal drum 12, superimposed over a bank of tubes 13, expanded into front and rear transi' verse drums 14 'and 15 respectively, wliich are in turn connected to upper drum by front. and rear sluiceways 16 and 17 is heated by a furnace 18 to a temperature and ata presysure best suited t'o obtain the desiredy objectives in yield and Acomposition of product desired, excessive pressure being relieved by i safety valve. 19.

The still, he several parts of which are set forth above, constitute the cracking zone in which conditions of temperature and dispersion of 'solids are maintained so uniform throu hout b means of the ropeller with its ba anced -wheel rim an superim orifceplate, t at any variation in conditions of temperature'or dispersion ot solids approaches the Zero or vanishing point.

@il is maintained in the still at level 20 indicated by gauge 2l, continuously discharging trom the still, past control valve til enced by quality of gasoline produced, bame tower reject, and speed ot feed) that is essentially a constantly substantial percentage oit the bulk still contents; such discharge being later vaporized at low pressure in other apparatus to give up its more valuable constituents before ultimate rejection as heavy residuuni.

Coincident with the above described continuous operations, the entire bulk charge ot the still is maintained in constant circulation by the propeller 2d, mounted on shaft 25, extending through stulling box 26 and driven by motor 27.

Figure 2 represents the development of the propeller from the tivo half sections 28 and 28'; the split hub 29, blades 30, rim 3l, and riveted joints 32 and 32 being clearly shown.

ln Figure 3, the propeller is shown mounted on shaft 25, reduced to taper' tit 33,

and locked by key 3i. @n the upper and lower bosses of the hub 29, are scrcvved the top and bottom reverse tapped lock-nuts 35 a@ and 36. The blades 30 appear in the dravving partly in elevation and partly in cross section, the tty-Wheel in full cross section.'

A deecting cone or orice plate 37, located immediately above and projecting over ily- `Wheel rim 3l, serves to reduce duid triction and minimize backlash,

ln Figure t is shown a fractional cross section ot a form of my propeller in which the edges oit the 'rim are beveled, thus obviat ing the necessity tor the orice' plate; l pre i viler, however, to employ the plate and the torm of propeller rim shown in Figure 3.

'lhe shaft is held in rotative alignment in the sluiceway i7 by the bearing 38, the ,an thrust ot rotation being taken care ot by the upper thrust bearing 39 shown in lliigure l. rllhe still has man-necks t() through which the positive propeller, preferably in two sections, enters the still.

This invention is not restricted to the pre cise speeds, rates and times set forth, nor to the apparatus shown and described.

'lhat portion ot the still which comprises the upper longitudinal drum, the underlying to sluiceways, the transverse drums and the heating tubes is adapted to contain the main body ot oil in the still, and ito is therefore herein referred to as a container. Moreover, since the entire body ot oil in the container @tlf is driven by the propeller through the longitudinal drum, the sluiceways, the transverse drums and the heating tubes in a cyclic manner, it is apparent that the container forms what may be termed an enclosed cyclic @d channel.

22, through draw-ott line 23, at a rate (indubarattoli@ What ll claim isi L The process of continuously producing gasoline and other light oils trom charging stock comprising heavier hydrocarbons, which consists in continuously heating such charging stock at a cracking temperature in a closed still; supplying during the run additional charging stock to the still; continuously taking od vapors; rejecting during the run part of the still contents; and forcing the entire liquid contents of the still therethrough under the action ot circulating means adapted to create and translate Whirlmgvortexedectsinto a positive driving torce vvhereby such high velocity is obtained thatI the conditions throughout such still contents are, as to temperature and composition, so nearly identical that variation as to these characteristics in different parts ot the still approaches the zero or vanishing point.

2. rllhe process ot continuously producing gasoline and other light oils trom charging stock comprising hea-vier hydrocarbons, which consists in continuously heating such charging stock ata cracking temperature in` ing zone under pressure; extraneously heating a portion of said cracking Zone; contin uously releasing vaporized hydrocarbons therefrom; and maintaining such a positive and rapid 'circulation of the hydrocarbons throughout the entire cracking zone 'independently of the stream of hydrocarbons owing to and troni said cracking zone that variation in conditions ot temperature and dispersion of solids throughout the entire cracking zone approaches the zero or vanishing point. c,

t. ln an oil cracking still having a circulating passage tor the oil undergoing cracking, a propeller having blades operating in said passage, a tapered means in said passage immediately above the propeller tor directing oil ltoward the center of said blades and a rim surrounding said blades and in close proximity to the walls ot said passage tor preventing slippage ot oil from said propeller blades back along the Walls ot said passageD 5. ln an oil cracking still comprising a drum, a series ot heating tubes and connecte edecting such a turbulent- 'EYES lla ing passages between said tubes and drum, a restriction in one of said connecting passages, a propeller having blades operating in this pass-age between said restriction and said ltubes, anda'rim'surrounding said blades and in close proximity to the walls of said' passage, said restriction facilitating the flow of oil into said blades and said rim preventing slippage of oil from thecnds of saidv blades back along the walls of said passage.

6. In an oil cracking still having a circulating passage for the oil undergoing cracking, a propeller having blades operating in said passage, a rim surrounding vsaid blades for preventing slippage of oil from said blades back along the walls of said passage, and a deflecting cone overlying said rim for facilitating the flow of oil into said blades.

7. In an oil cracking still comprising a i drum, a series of heating tubes and connect# ing passages between said tubes and drum.

a rotative propeller in one of said connecting passages for forcing oil in a given direction through said passage` a fixed orifice plate forming a restr1ction in said passage immediat'ely preceding said rotative propeller for directing .oil thereinto and a rotatable annular member integral with said propellerA and directly beneath said orifice plate forming a' continuation of the restriction of the orifice plate through the ropeller whereby the iiow of oil in said pgsage is increased immediately prior to and throughout the action of the propeller upon the oil.

8. The process of continuously producing gasoline and other light oils from charging stock comprising heavier hydrocarbons ad- -mixed with an adsorptive material such as lime hydrate` which consists in continuously heating such charging stock at a .cracking temperature iny a losed still; continuously supplying addition( l charging rstock contain. ing said adsorptive material to the still; continuously taking ofi' vapors; withdrawing during the run a portion of the still contents including adsorptive material' and associated carbon; and mechanically eiccting such a turbulent and rapid circulation 'of the entire liquid contents of the still, including said adsorptive material, that the conditions of ternperature and composition are so nearlv identical throughout said still that variation as to these characteristics approaches the zero or vanishing point. I

9.l The process of continuously producing gasoline and other light oils from charging stock comprising heavier hydrocarbons which consists in continuously heating such charging stock at a cracking temperature in a closedstill including a bank of heating tubes and a non-extraneously heated drum; continuously vsupplying additional `charging stock to the still; continuousl taking oi vapors; withdrawing during t e runa portionof the still contentsyand mechanically eecting such a turbulent and-rapid circulation of the entire of heating tubes and non-extraneously heated drum that conditions of temperature and com-4 drum, a series of heating tubes and vertlcal connecting passages between saidvftubes and drum, a stuffing box opening into said drum over one of said vertical connecting passages,

a vertical shaft extending through said stuif- Jing box and drum into `said connecting pas- 4 sage, a thrust bearing for supporting said shaft, means attached to said shaft outside the still for causlng rapid rotation thereof, propeller bladesI attached to said'sha'ftwithin said connecting passage for forcing oil downwardly through said passage'and effecting a rapid circulation of the oil through saidy tubes and drum, 4and a rim of substantial weight insaidl propeller tegral with and surrounding blades for mlmnnzing upward thrust on said bearing when said shaft 1s rotated and 011 1s forced downwardly by said propeller blades through said passage and rapidly' circulated tlirough'said tubes and drum.

11. In drum, a series'of heating tubes and vertical connecting passages between said tubes and drum, a stufiing box opening into said drum c over one of said vertical connecting passages, a vertical shaft extending through said stuffing box and drum into said connecting passage, a thrust bearing for sup ortin i said shaft, means attachedv to said sha still for causing 'rapid rotation thereof, prosaid shafty within peller blades attached to said connecting passage for forcing oil downwardly through said passage and effect-4 in a rapid circulation ofthe oil through saidtubes and drum, and a beveled rim of substantial weight integral withl and surround!v liquid contents of the still through said bank.

an oil cracking still comprising aA yns' outside tle 'i nos ing said propeller blades,the,outer surface of I u said rim being disposed 1n close proximity to the walls of said passage wherebyslippage of oil from said propeller blades back along the walls of said passage is reduced and upward thrust on said bearing is minimized when said shaft is rotated and' oil is forced downwardly by said propeller blades throughsad Ipassage and rapidly circulated through'said vtubes and drum.

.In testimony whereof I have aiiixed Amy signature. A

i CHARLES HOWARD JENKINS.

DISCLAIMER 1,827,018.-0horles Howard Jenkins, Chicago, Ill. PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HEAVIER HYDROCARBONS. Patent dated October 13, 1931. Disclaimer filed October 17, 1934, by the assignee, Jenkins Petroleum Process Company, and the patentee.

Hereby enter this disclaimer from the scope of claims one (l), two (2), three (3), eight (8) and nine (9) of the aforesaid Letters Patent of any and all processes for cracking hydrocarbon oilsfsaving and excepting such processes in Which the oil undergoing cracking is circulated in a plurality of restricted streams through a bank of heating tubes at a Velocity of upwards of eighteen feet per second, thence in an unrestricted stream through a non-extraneously heated drum, and oil from said drum is returned to said bank of heating tubes for re-circulation therethrough, as aforesaid.

And your petitioner hereby enters this disclaimer from the Scope of claims four (4), five (5) and six (6) of the aforesaid Letters Patent of any and all constructions, saving .and excepting Such constructions in Which the rim is attached to and rotates With the propeller blades.

[Oficial Gazette November 13, 1,9341 

